IT'S A BIG DAY

Today is a bittersweet day for me....it is the day that the baby we were expecting but lost earlier this year was due.    But I can't be disappointed because I have another birthday to celebrate.

The birthday of my 1st born, Gabriella Renee is 18 today!   Wow, who thought I would survive to see this day.  HAHA

She is a beautiful girl, with talent, style and a seriously strong personality (hmmm wonder where she gets that from)  Also a great big sister (at times..lol)

Just wanted to take a moment to wish her a HAPPY 18TH BEAUTIFUL GIRL.....hope you have a wonderful day and surround yourself with people who love and care for you as much as I do!

You are a ...good friend

You are.......a trendsetter.

You are..............beautiful!

You are............a high school graduate!

You are............our girl!

You are..........loved by your brother and sisters!

Remember your family is always here for you and loves you no matter what!!!!

- Mama

SEPTEMBER MEANS....ST JAMES STREET FAIR

Ive been quick busy since my last post ......things are great at the shop and this weekend we had our street fair.   So I thought I would share some of the pics of my area on the street in front of the shop.

Me and my girls in our space.

I got apples....fresh candy and caramel apples in the shop

Some fall home accents and accessories

My new display area for the apples

Handmade, soy candles, pumpkins and some vintage housewares.

It was a great day and I just love when my town has these events.   Being on Main Street is such a great spot to me....front and center for all of the community fun.

- MJ

JERSEY FRESH

Im a born and raised Jersey Girl without a doubt, but that doesn't mean I don't love the country life.   I live in Central Jersey, 20 minutes from Major Airport of NJ and have 2 shopping malls 10 minutes from my house. My town of Woodbridge, New Jersey is a central location for almost all major highways in the state and we are the famous Exit 11 on the New Jersey Turnpike.

However I am also the mother of 5, who this year opened a little recycled art/vintage finds shop in my hometown on yes.....you guessed it Main Street.    I say hi to all the shopowners and people walking by, cause thats just my nature.     I give things to local businesses because I want to have a connection with them as business owners and to support one another.

My town is very supportive of small businesses, they are supportive of the Arts and are extremely focused on a GREENABLE lifestyle.   We even have a GREENABLE MUSEUM in our local mall that showcases some of the best ideas, concepts and projects Ive seen.

We hold amazing events, parades, craft shows, free concerts and something that has become a favorite of mine The Farmer's Market.    The location has changed to a little historic property in town and has been combined with the Summer Free Concerts and I have to say that it has been an amazing summer.

I have gained a ton of new friends in town and discovered so many artistic talented individuals who have also become part of my Lucky 7 Design family.  

Tonight while at the market, the band playing was a cover band of Fleetwood Mac and I was surrounded my people who were out to enjoy the evening.   I had a few of my vendors there as well and it was just a wonderful night.

I wanted to share with you a collection of photos that I have taken of the market the past few weeks so you can see that you really can live the simple country life even in the middle of all the hustle and bustle.   Planes...Trains and Automobiles are a daily visual around here, put tonight just sitting on my old wooden rattan chair surrounded by everyone under the big trees appreciating the end of summer was a blast.

I hope you all have a town like mine, and if you don't be the one to do something about it.   I will say that I will be the big mouth in town, I want parades, events, I want people to get out and enjoy everything the town has to offer.   I want our Main Street to be a destination for friends to gather, families to walk around, couples to dine out and to share in a connection of small business and small town life in the big city.

My daughter watching/listening to the sound check of Delta Rae

One of my 1st tables at the market

Stylish woman at the market, that I had to photograph

My 1st chalkboard sign for the market

  

My 2nd table at the market

My issues of FOLK magazine come with me and people love them

Some jewelry and photography on display from my shop

Fresh peaches from the Farmer (local farmer located in Hillsborough NJ)

Fresh  Apple Pies I brought along with handmade soy candles one week

Intro of my new Teenage designer at the shop...

My revamped sign for the market

This table was focused on jewelry and accessories

My muse rocking recycled jewelry

Peppers at the market...

Beautiful sunflowers

This weeks table...theme was recycled jewelry and dessert candles

We have a few more weeks to go and I will be sharing more of next week's End Of Summer table along with the upcoming Fall/Harvest themes I'll be bringing to the market.

- MJ

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

Here is a quick peek at what Ive been working on ..........

CHRISTMAS IN JULY

   July 28 - 29th

Lucky 7 Design

76 Main Street

Woodbridge, NJ 07095

732-750-1777

Hope to see you all there..

-MJ

PEEK A BOO

Hey everyone....I see you!

It's been awhile since Ive posted, it's been such a busy time with my daughter's prom, then graduation and then my husband and his new job.

The shop is crazy busy and Im always trying to do new displays and traveling around town to local events to get the word out about a new cool shop in town.

Just wanted to stop in and tell you .................................I see you!

         Oh yeah........I decided to dye my hair back!    Fade to Black

                                                      - MJ

TODAY WAS A SPECIAL DAY

My oldest daughter Gabriella attended her Senior Prom today   They grow so fast and it has been a crazy few weeks around here, with lots of prom drama.

Her request was that she wanted to do a vintage style.............so you know Mama did whatever she had to do to make it happen.  Thankfully I have the most creative, talented friends around and this is what we came up with at the end of the day.   Her handsome friend & prom date was great and didn't mind going along with her vision.

They looked amazing, original and every other adjective to describe something that stands out on it's own in the best way.

With her friend & prom date Zach

The official porch photo

Zach's boutineer (vintage lace, sash from dress, feathers with fresh flowers)

Jewelry in ears and hair (those are rings I found...they worked perfectly)

Love this earrings...perfect match

This bracelet was so gorgeous with the dress too.

Besties....Gabi & Zena

Candid photo

Trendsetter....

Prom Dates on standby

The stylish couple of W.H.S  Class of 2012

Im a proud mama for sure tonight.

-MJ

Have to give BIG THANK YOU'S to:

EcoBling Couture for the fabulous jewelry

Amanda Rose Studios for an amazing custom handmade vintage dress

Femme Fatale Florals for the original and awesome boutineer & corsage.

TIME FOR A BACKYARD MAKEOVER

Things have been so busy at the shop that my husband and I noticed that in order for us to throw our big BBQ this weekend we need to get the backyard squared away.

So we moved some things around, added some outdoor spaces and still have some things to do but the foundation is set and I gotta say we kinda like it.

Here is a little peak of what we have going on so far

This Talavera tile from Mexico was inspiration for the color scheme and decor

Put my vintage bar cart to use to hold plates and bbq items

We moved our patio furniture down from the deck to the yard area...added some fabulous bright red umbrellas.

I freshened up my faded cushions with some ....yep...rag rugs. Perfect!

The new gifted hot tub of a family friend got a colorful makeover....RED again.

A gazebo on the deck, now provides a shady retreat and lounge area.   Pulled a vintage brass/glass table that I had in the garage and it works perfectly.

I will share more of this little transformation with pics of this weekends BBQ.

Congrats to my husband on his success, I'm very proud of him (but then again I always have been)

- MJ

SOMETIMES EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO......

You have to paint a good vintage piece......here is that instance.

Here is one of my trips...you can see the Imperial hall table back left.  I purchased it from a woman who was  selling her mother's estate items.  Those 3 tables were all from her.

I brought it to the shop and left it in original condition.  Painted a vintage mirror to match...and it got some good looks but no takers.

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...in my many years as a retail merchandiser I know when something doesn't sell you re-merchandise it or take it off the floor.

What do you think I did???

Yep I took it off the floor.....but only temporarily to paint it. (LOL)

You can only merchandise something so much, if it's not selling it's got to go.

Well here is the new redesigned table.  I did in a two tone with 1st a undercoating of Maine Harbor Blue then  a top coat of Memphis Blue by CeCe Caldwell's Paints.

I so excited at the two-tone makeover and the fact that I have become such a fan of blue since using this paint line.  It's shows in the shop and now in my home too.

So...........if you have a piece that is tired...... redesign it with some paint and new accessories.

-MJ